The Irish standard., 1887-07-09
MINNEAPOLIS.

MINNEAPOLIS.
A Speech on Labor.
At the labor celebration and picnic
in Minneapolis, on the fourth Of July,
Aid. Dwyer, delivered the following
speech:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GEN
TLEMEN:--For the first time in the
history of labor organization, we are
gathered here to-day, labor men and
labor women, to celebrate the event of
our national independence upon this
fourth of July. 1 know that word.
(labor women,) does not sound we'll, as
far as it applies to the work shop and
factories, for those places, with rare
exceptions) were intended for man
alone, the household is for women, but
since the condition of the labor man is
depressed, thousands of women are COM
pelled to leave their households to assist
their partners in life, or parents in
their struggle for IA livelihood. How
ever, throughout this broad land to day,
labor women are mingled with labor
men, to show their respect and loyalty
for the land of the free and the home of
the brave, and to show that as an
organized body of laboring people, no
other flag do we recognize than the
stars and stripes of America. This is
but a beginning in the new move for
which we are here to-day. but the work
itself had its beginning, the work will
have its end, and not until that time
should organized labor cease to band
together throughout the land, upon the
fourth of July, and show to the world
that though we are poor we have as
much brains and gift of the tongue to
declare that we are as true and loyal
American citizens as though we were
millionaires. But it is an honor to be
poor, in comparison to what it is to be
rich, and we have the word of God
himself for it that it is a blessing to be
Door, that it is crime to be rich, while
thousands of Gods children, year after
year, month after month, and more
frequently, too, go to their graves for
want of food. But the father of our
country, all honor and praise to his
name, George Washington, is not to
blame for this, as his motives were in
for our country's independence,
that not only the nation, but
the people of the nation, should
be free and supplied with full
and plenty. Then, where does the
blame lie? 1t lies in man, selfish schem-
ing man towards man. But by such
acts as we are performing here to-day
on the part of organized labor, we Will
gain as much respect and good will
from the government as we have for
the government, and that is all we ask,
and the day will come when the just
demands of labor will be the first
to by our highest public men.
So we should continue to practice
what we have begun to-day, that the
example may be followed by our own
children, and their children, until, with
the nation, the people will be free
from the chains which hold them down.
And few words as to the origin of
this celebration. In all countries of the
world there are certain factions of
people with different objects in view,
who have it's leaders and champions,
particularly might we mention England
and Ireland, where the Tories Of to-day
have leader in Salisbury, the Unionists,
in Churchill, Chamberlain and Company.
The Liberals have a leader in the grand
old man, ana last, but not least, the
have leader and champion
IN the person of Chas. Stewart Parnell.
whose motto is liberty-home rule for
Ireland, country whose people would
shed the last drop of their blood, not
only for Ireland but for liberty ard
America in time of need. And in
too, there are certain fact ions
of people with different aims in view.
Some of them we should forever guard
against, one in particular, Anarchy,
and turn our thoughts to that one great
body of organized laboringpeople whose
motto is not to destroy or pull down,
but build up and educate one another
to proceed as law abiding citizens
through honorable and just means until
victory will be won, and as a member
Of that body 1 can say that
we, too, have our leader and cham
pion, a true, loyal, and when
courage is needed a fearless American
citizen in the person of Terence v.
Powderly. He is the one whose wisdom
has directed that in every town and city
throughout this land, that we assemble |
together to-day, if Tor no other purpose
than to read and respect the Declara-
tion of Independence. Yet, he too.
though good man as he is, has his
enemies. Why not, because since
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